Canada cricket team out of contention for tournament after narrow loss to Nepal

WINDHOEK, Namibia - Canada's cricket team was at the wrong end of a thrilling finish against Nepal in ICC World Cricket League Division 2 play Wednesday.

Led by Srimantha Wijeratne's unbeaten 103 after being put into bat, the Canadian men put up a score of 195 for nine in their 50 overs and looked well-positioned for a victory that would send them to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.

Nepal (4-1) was reduced to its last wicket in the 43rd over at 144 for eight. But a 51-run partnership between Karan KC (42) and Sandeep Lamichhane (5) led Nepal to a one-run victory.

Nepal needed eight off the final over. Canadian bowler Cecil Pervez blanked Karan KC for the first four balls but the Nepalese No. 10 slammed a six off the fourth ball.

Pervez bowled a wide and it came down to the last ball, with Karan KC hitting a single to mid-wicket for a final 50-over score of 195 runs and the win.

Pervez took three wickets for 41 runs for Canada (3-2).

"I feel for Canada," said Nepal captain Paras Khadka. "One in a million times you would win those games. Things have just worked out for us, we have been working so hard for all these years and eventually it has happened for us, I am speechless."

The United Arab Emirates (3-2 with a better net run rate than Canada) joins Nepal in advancing from the six-team tournament to the next qualifying stage for the World Cup.